Proceeds will benefit Pezzano Scholarships, S.M.A.R.T. and Y.E.S. funds; Military kids are eligible

After weeks of testing, the Bowling Writers Association of America is officially launching a new tournament for youth bowlers this week. BWAA is teaming up with VirtualTournaments.com to create an all new ongoing weekly tournament called the Virtual Youth Challenge, where youth bowlers from age 8-20 with verified averages anywhere in the world can have fun while earning scholarship awards toward higher education.

The Virtual Youth Challenge is designed to encourage young bowlers to participate in league bowling, and it gives them an extra incentive to improve their skills to earn scholarship awards for the very affordable entry fee of $5. From every entry fee, $3 will be paid in S.M.A.R.T. scholarship awards, $1 will go to the BWAA Pezzano Scholarship program (which benefits youth bowlers studying communications) $.50 to Bowling’s Youth Education Services (Y.E.S.) fund, and $.50 to administration of the event.

“We are very proud to launch this new event for youth bowlers,” said BWAA President Jim Goodwin. “Our Pezzano Scholarship Committee chair Joan Romeo and our Virtual Tournament Committee chair Brandy Padilla have been working together with Scott Scriver at VirtualTournaments.com for months to write the rules and put this all together. We are very excited about the long term potential of this event and we encourage everyone in the industry to get behind this effort to boost youth bowling.”

In the Virtual Youth Challenge, bowlers will compete using their league scores in two age divisions – 8 through 12 and 13 through 20. Only youth bowlers not participating in adult leagues are eligible, and all averages will be verified before winners become official each week.

The Virtual Youth Challenge is a simple “Highest Over Average” event with a handicap of 90% from the highest average entered each week in each division. One of every five entries each week in each division will earn scholarship awards that will be deposited in their SMART account within 30 days.

Aside from the great benefit of being able to earn scholarship awards without travel expense, young bowlers with military families around the world will be able to participate from the hundreds of centers on military bases across the globe.

For complete rules and information, visit the website www.VirtualYouthChallenge.com, or look for news and information at www.bowlingwriters.com.

The Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) is the world’s most prominent bowling media and communications organization. Since 1934, BWAA has been a primary industry source for bowling news and information for the global sport and business of bowling.

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BWAA Elects Mohr, Vidad as Senior Bowlers of the Year

ARLINGTON, Texas, January 9, 2012 -   The Bowling Writers Association of America has elected Ron Mohr, Eagle River, AK, and Paula Vidad, Sun City, CA  as Senior Bowlers of the Year for 2011.

Mohr won four PBA Senior titles, including the Senior US Open and finished in the top five in all but one of the10 events in which he competed.  He is the first senior to win four titles in a single season, earning himself $56,100 to top the earnings list.  He finished second in the average rankings, surpassed only by Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr, Ocala, FL, who finished runner-up in the balloting.  Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Township, MI, was third in the voting.

Vidad was the 2011 Senior Queens champion and had an outstanding showing in the USBC Women's Championships.  She also finished 16^th in the Golden Ladies.   Runner-up for the second year in a row was Char Hammel, Las Vegas, who finished third in the Golden Ladies and second in the Senior Queens.

Candidates for Senior Bowler of the Year must be 50 years of age by January 1 of the year of competition.  The Bowling Writers Association of America instituted the male award in 1993 and began the female award in 2000.

Bowling Writers Association of America 
The Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA), founded in 1934, is the world's most recognized bowling media and communications organization.  For eight decades, BWAA has been a primary industry source for bowling news and information for the global sport and business of bowling. 

2012 BWAA Amateur Writing Competition

This writing competition is designed for BWAA Members who are not compensated for their stories.  The committee will determine eligibility and announce the winners during the BWAA social event in Reno, Nevada in late June.  Winners will be notified of the exact time and place of the presentation.

Postmark for deadline to enter the contest is March 15, 2012. 

Editorial, Feature, and Event Coverage submissions must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. Entries must be original clippings from the respective publication; printouts from materials published on Internet Web sites, and/or tape or CD of materials from radio or television.